Three views: What the provincial budget means for Waterloo region

Region of Waterloo Chair Karen Redman says she will wait to see details about how the province will implement its new budget before making decisions on how it will affect the area.

She noted the budget, released Thursday, had passing references to affordable housing, mental health and two-way, all-day GO train service between Kitchener and Toronto.

She also raised concerns over how the province will realign public health authorities and how that could affect the Region of Waterloo council, which also serves at the region's board of health.

Listen to the whole interview with Chair Karen Redman:

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says there's not very much to like about the budget.

"The focus on booze and branding, I guess, is what this government's priorities are but from what I hear from everyday families is that that's not what their priorities are," she said.

Hear the whole interview with opposition leader Andrea Horwath:

Kitchener-Conestoga Progressive Conservative MPP Mike Harris says he is pleased with the budget.

"There's some great things in here," he said, noting the increased funding for education and a child care credit were important to him and people in his riding.

He rejected the idea that the new government has been too focused on alcohol. He pointed out the budget document is 343 pages long.

"To single out beer and alcohol sales in convenience stores — it's a pretty big budget — and for people just to single that out I don't think is fair," he said. "This is about giving people more convenience. It's about allowing them to make those choices for themselves."

Listen to the whole interview with Kitchener-Conestoga Progressive Conservative MPP Mike Harris: